Printer friendly version
Email
Serbia
Country Specific Information
On this page » |
|
March 26, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:_small.gif)
.gif)
Serbia is a country that continues to undergo political changes. In 2006, Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia,
changing the name of the country from Serbia and Montenegro to the Republic of Serbia, with the Republic of Montenegro becoming
a separate state. This change has had minimal impact on foreign travelers. On February 17, 2008 Kosovo declared its independence
from Serbia; it is not yet clear how this change will affect foreign travelers. For more information on Kosovo, please read
our Country Specific Information for Kosovo.
Tourist facilities are widely available within Serbia but vary in quality. Some facilities may not be up to western standards.
Read the Department of State Background Notes on Serbia for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens with tourist, official, or diplomatic passports do not require a visa for entry and stay in Serbia for up
to 90 days. Individuals planning to stay longer than 90 days should obtain a visa prior to arrival. This applies to bearers
of all types of U.S. passports – tourist, official, and diplomatic. To obtain a visa, travelers should contact the Serbian
Embassy in Washington at telephone (202) 332-0333 or fax (202) 332-3933. The address of the Embassy is 2134 Kalorama Road,
Washington, DC 20008 and the web site is http://www.mfa.gov.yu. Alternatively, travelers may also contact the Serbian Consulate General in Chicago by telephone at (312) 670-6707, by fax
at (312) 670-6787, by email at yuconsulate@aol.com, or in person at 201 East Ohio St., Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Travelers who obtain a new passport while in Serbia and do not have a prior passport or other evidence of their entry (for
example, in cases of a lost or stolen passport or a child born in Serbia) will not be allowed to depart the country without
an exit visa obtained from the Ministry of Interior. Similarly, travelers who use a different country's passport to enter
than to exit (for example, entering with a Serbian passport or Serbian "National ID Card" and attempting to exit with a U.S.
passport) are likely to have difficulty exiting Serbia due to the lack of an entry stamp in their passport. Note that Montenegro
and Kosovo have their own immigration requirements.
Travelers who enter Serbia with more than the equivalent of 5,000 euros in cash are required to declare all currency upon
entry and must obtain from customs officials a declaration that must be presented at departure. Failure to comply may result
in the confiscation of all funds. Please refer to our Customs Information to learn more about customs regulations.
Registration with Local Authorities: Visitors staying in private accommodations must register with the police station responsible
for the area in which they are staying within 24 hours of arrival. Failure to comply may result in a fine, incarceration,
and/or expulsion. Persons who fail to register may face difficulties in departing the country. Visitors staying in hotels
or tourist facilities are automatically registered with the police by the hotel. Additional information about visa requirements
and the obligation of foreigners to register their location is available from the Government of Serbia at http://www.mup.sr.gov.yu.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Occasional demonstrations occur. After Kosovo declared its independence in February 2008, large-scale demonstrations took
place in Belgrade that turned violent. The U.S. Embassy was heavily damaged and one protestor lost his life as a result.
We wish to remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful have the potential to turn into confrontational
situations and possibly escalate into violence. U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Serbia should take commonsense precautions
to avoid demonstrations and to be aware of heightened security and potential delays when they occur. Anti-American sentiment
tends to be highest surrounding the anniversary dates of the 1999 NATO bombing campaign or during times of unusually high
tension in Kosovo. In some instances, Serb victories in high profile international sporting events have triggered demonstrations.
Most demonstrations have been peaceful or were marked by only low levels of violence.
Travelers to southern Serbia should be aware that the security situation in southern Serbia has the potential to deteriorate
quickly. U.S. Government employees on official business near the border between Serbia and Kosovo travel with fully armored
vehicles. Persons contemplating travel in southern Serbia near the Kosovo border should register and check in with the U.S.
Embassy for the latest information.
Local Belgrade nightclubs are becoming increasingly popular with foreign tourists. Patrons should be aware that these establishments
can be crowded and may not comply with Western standards for occupancy control and fire safety.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of
Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Belgrade is not afflicted with as much street crime as most large cities. However, pick-pocketing and purse snatchings
can occur. The same precautions one would take in any large city in the United States should serve well in Belgrade. Crimes
tend to be based on opportunity rather than targeting. Unsecured vehicles, items left in plain sight within vehicles, open
gates, and open garage doors are inviting targets. Difficult economic conditions have led to the growth of an organized criminal
class. Violent crime is most commonly associated with organized crime activities. While confrontational and gratuitously
violent crimes rarely target tourists, Mafia-style reprisals have sometimes occurred, including in hotels, restaurants, shops
and on the street, and the threat of passersby being affected is possible. Bombs targeting specific individuals have detonated
in popular business and restaurant areas, usually after midnight and in the early morning hours. Car thefts or break-ins
can occur at all times of day or night in all sections of Belgrade and other parts of the country if vehicles do not have
additional security devices like fuel line interrupter switches or steering wheel locking devices.. As in other parts of
the world, travelers should be especially on guard walking in city centers. In case of emergency, the police telephone number
is 92.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Although many physicians in Serbia are highly trained, hospitals, clinics, and ambulances are generally not equipped and maintained to Western standards. Medicines and basic medical supplies are largely obtainable in privately owned pharmacies. Hospitals require payment in cash for all services, and do not accept health insurance as compensation.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection,
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at
http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad
to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Serbia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in
a particular location or circumstance.
Roads in Serbia are often poorly maintained, especially in rural areas. During winter months, fog can obscure visibility
while driving. Fog can be extremely heavy in Vojvodina, the region between Belgrade and the border with Hungary.
Road tolls for foreign-registered vehicles remain high. The use of seat belts is mandatory. A driver with a blood alcohol
level higher than 0.05% is considered intoxicated. Roadside assistance is available by dialing 987. Other emergency numbers
are police: 92, fire department: 93, and ambulance: 94.
Metered taxi service is safe and reasonably priced, although foreigners are sometimes charged higher rates. Buses and trams
are overcrowded in Belgrade and in other areas of Serbia, and are poorly maintained.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
More specific information concerning Serbian driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance in the
Serbian language from Serbian Automotive Association can be found at http://www.amss.org.yu. Some general information about driving conditions is available in English at the Belgrade Tourism Organization’s web site
at http://www.tob.co.yu/eng/.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Serbia's Civil Aviation Authority as not being
in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Serbia’s air
carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Travelers entering Serbia with more than 5,000 euros in cash are required to declare all currency upon entry and obtain from customs officials a declaration form that must be presented at departure. Failure to comply may result in the confiscation of all funds. The U.S. Embassy has been contacted by many American citizens who have failed to comply with this requirement and consequently had thousands of dollars seized by the Government of Serbia. It is advisable to contact the Serbian Embassy in Washington for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Dual U.S./Serbian nationals need to be aware that they may be subject to laws that impose special obligations on Serbian citizens.
Serbian males between the ages of 18 and 27 are required by law to perform military service. This applies to any individual
whom the authorities consider to be Serbian -regardless of whether or not the individual considers himself Serbian, has a
foreign citizenship and passport, or was born or lives outside of Serbia. If remaining in Serbia for more than the 90-day
period permitted for tourism or business, men of Serbian descent may be prevented from leaving until they complete their military
obligations or receive a waiver. Obligatory non-voluntary military service in Serbia will not affect U.S. citizenship. Specific
questions on this subject should be addressed to the citizenship section of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade. For additional
general information, see our Citizenship and Nationality information.
Additional information is available from the Government of Serbia at http://www.mod.gov.yu/000english/01%20index-e.htm.
Please see our Customs Information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly
from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties
for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Serbian laws, even
unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Serbia
are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or
using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.
Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATIONS: Americans living in or traveling in Serbia are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy of Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Serbia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is located at 50 Kneza Milosa Street. The Embassy and consular section telephone number is 381-11-3619-344, and the same number should be used for after hour emergencies. The Consular Section fax number is 381-11-3615-989. The web site is http://belgrade.usembassy.gov/.
* * * * *
This replaces the Country Specific Information dated September 13, 2007, to update sections on Country Description, Entry Requirements, Safety and Security, and Crime.
